October 16, 2014

Why I love Microsoft OneNote

1. It works well for a person on the go (mobile traveler or a Work-From-Home employee)

I can take it on my laptop, access lots of info while offline (perhaps on the plane or in a restaurant without WiFi), and then when I am connected to my network, it synchs up reliably and quickly, without drama.

2. It has quick and effective search tools

3. It works well for taking notes during a meeting.

You can easily flag things that need attention elsewhere later without losing your engagement from the meeting. I find it very annoying when others are taking notes and are so distracted by their program (Word, Excel, whatever) that they become disengaged from the conversation. Though you can still be distracted while using OneNote, I find it is the easiest program so far for taking notes and doing research during a meeting with the least amount of distraction penalty.

And here are some of my favorite features

I love this article on How to hire good talent. I’ve worked has a hiring manager for several years. In those roles, I have observed that the best people for the job are not necessarily those who have the exact skills. In our technical field, where technology changes so swiftly, and where technology is so diverse, it is difficult to find someone who is an expert in the particular toy you happen to own. If that is your main critierion, then you may be disappointed with whom you hire. I love simply being transparent with them, posing the problems we face, and asking them how they will tackle them. It gives me an idea whether they have a clue, and it gives them a clue about what they will face.